01. Flames Of The Free02. Shadow Of The Swastika03. Take Your Tyrant04. Evening Star05. Hall Of Freedom06. Fields Of The Fallen07. Konning Hans08. Ellindur Bondi A Jadri09. Nine Words Of Lore10. The Lay Of Thrym11. I [Black Sabbath cover][bonus]12. Stargazer [Rainbow cover][bonus]

Faroese Viking metallers Týr don't seem like they want to take a break as they're back with The Lay of Thrym, not long after their previous effort By the Light of the Northern Star. Týr is (more like, was) one of those rare bands that has managed to create their own sound in a genre where most others just try to get their share out of the hype by following the genre's basic formulas. On the other hand, Týr had a distinct progressive touch, utilize no death vocals and managed to blend this progressive/heavy metal successfully with their traditional Faroese music. This, however, has started to change recently.

The band is no longer bothered with being progressive. As Heri Joensen stated in some interviews, they deliberately took a more straightforward approach starting with By the Light of the Northern Star. That album saw the band drifting away from long, mid tempo, hard to appreciate song structures to basically everything that is the opposite. Melodic, fast, catchy, easy to grasp, not demanding. So this "progression" continues with The Lay of Thrym. Every song on this album has seemingly been written with one purpose only: to make one raise the fists and sing along. Nearly every song except the ballad "Evening Star" is fast, melodic, simple and chorus oriented. This may appear a bad thing, and when looking back at the band's more progressive and original past, it's indeed a pity. However, they play this new style damn well. It might be cheesy and simple but even after a few listens one realises that the songs are playing in one's mind over and over again. If they want to get more new fans, which apparently they do, this new style is much more fitting to this purpose.

Although nearly all the songs prove a pleasant listen, I cannot help but wish that there were more Faroese (or Danish for that matter) songs on the album. Only one Faroese and one Danish song really remind me that it's actually a Týr album instead of just another Viking/power metal band's album. I hope the group will not stray so drastically far away from their roots in the upcoming albums and include more of the style which got them where they are today.

In the end, this is a simple, straightforward and easy-to-digest album which is still enjoyable nonetheless. But I have to say I'm afraid of Týr becoming another one of those gimmicky bands in the folk metal scene which are not taken seriously any more (you know who you are). Fans of melodic folk/heavy/power metal may pretty much enjoy this, but don't expect an album which you will keep coming back to.

Compared to Eric The Red, or Ragnarok, this is a very, very weak album, almost boringly simplistic. Taken in without considering the older works, though, and measured by its own virtues, it's very, very good - a nice mixture of folk and power, good, straight-forward cheese and catchiness.

This is a great album as a standalone, but doesn't sound like the classic Tyr that we all know and love. I guess that proves that Tyr is awesome no matter which sub genre of metal they choose to play. But i think alot of us wish that they would still include Viking-esque lyrics and folk melodies in their songs, as that is why many of us started listening to Tyr. Sure, we can go over to Heljareyga and get our fix of classic Heri Joensen but they don't have the same chemistry that these guys have. I'm excited for the upcoming album this year and at the same time, scared. Highlight of The lay of Thrym for me was Shadow of the Swastika.... a really good message that unfortunately is played upon an audience of deaf ears...